Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: S Kamren Kinchens of Miami
The Las Vegas Raiders are turning their attention to the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Raiders made significant improvements on defense in 2023, but there are always more to be made.
For the Raiders, whoever ends up as the head coach and general manager, will evaluate all positions on both sides of the ball.
One area they will evaluate is the defensive secondary. Although the Raiders have several talented young players in their backfield, there is no such thing as too much defensive talent.
The Raiders could look at one of the top safeties in the class, Kamren Kinchens of Miami (Fla.), who is widely considered to be the top safety prospect in 2024.
Kinchens will be in Mobile, Ala., in February for the Senior Bowl after completing his Hurricanes career with 162 total tackles, five tackles for losses, 15 passes defended, and 11 interceptions. He was a First-Team All-American in 2022 and a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection.
Kinchens played both safety positions in Defensive Coordinator Lance Guidry’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme. He lined up in the box and in the slot occasionally, as well.
Miami Hurricanes safety Kamren Kinchens could be a fit for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Kinchens stands 6 feet tall and weighs 205 pounds, but plays much bigger. He is well-built in his upper body and has the speed to close quickly against the run when he is playing single-high deep in the backfield.
Kinchens is excellent in coverage and rarely gets beat deep. According to Pro Football Focus, Kinchens was targeted 21 times, allowing only 12 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
Against Clemson, Kinchens made an incredible play. He was in single-high pre-snap, initially covering the post route downfield, but he quickly flipped his hips and ran to the far sideline to intercept the ball.
Kinchens does not have desirable NFL size or athleticism, and sometimes tends to be overaggressive. He has a chance to post good numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Kinchens plays a similar style of football to Raiders safeties Marcus Epps and Tre’von Moehrig: stellar against the run and plays well in coverage.
Kinchens is expected to go in the late first or early second round, if a team bets on his football IQ and tenacious motor, and that team could be the Raiders.
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